Pubdate: Tue, 18 Jul 2000
Source: Orange County Register (CA)
Copyright: 2000 The Orange County Register
Contact:  P.O. Box 11626, Santa Ana, CA 92711
Fax: (714) 565-3657
Website: http://www.ocregister.com/

OAKLAND CLUB ALLOWED TO GIVE OUT MARIJUANA

A federal judge in San Francisco has cleared the way for an Oakland
club to distribute marijuana for medicinal purposes, saying the
government hasn't proven why seriously ill patients should be denied
the drug.

Monday's decision will allow the Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative
to provide cannabis to members who face imminent harm from a serious
medical condition and have found that legal alternatives to marijuana
don't work or cause intolerable side effects.

"We believe this is the tip of the iceberg," said John Entwhistle, a
spokesman for Californians for Compassionate Use, the group that wrote
the state's medical marijuana initiative, known as Proposition 215.
"We think at least the feds are starting to recognize the strength and
reality of the medical necessity of using marijuana as medicine, at
least for certain conditions."

Justice Department spokeswoman Gretchen Michael said officials were
reviewing the decision by U.S. District Court Charles R. Breyer. She
had no further comment.
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